Projection system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus includes a mirror array to form a projected image that includes pixels. The apparatus also includes a circuit to, for each pixel, control the mirror array to selectively combine reflected light from at least two mirrors of the array to regulate an intensity of the pixel.

BACKGROUND

The invention generally relates to a projection system.

Referring to FIG. 1, a typical mirror-based projection system 20 mayinclude at least one mirror array 10 (a mirror array of a digitalmicromirror device (DMD), for example) that reflects light in a mannerthat produces an image on a projection screen 19. The mirror array 10includes mirrors that are selectively tilted to spatially control thereflection of light (from a light source (not shown)) to and away fromthe screen 19 to form the image. More specifically, in the projectionsystem 20, each mirror of the array may be uniquely associated with onepixel of the image so that the mirror controls the intensity of theassociated pixel. The projection system 20 controls the tilt angle ofeach mirror to control when the mirror reflects light into a projectioncone 18 of light that projection optics 16 (of the system 20) casts ontothe projection screen 19. Depending on the desired pixel intensity, theprojection system 20 may tilt a particular mirror at a first angle toreflect light into the cone 18 of light to illuminate the associatedpixel, or the projection system 20 may tilt the mirror at another angleto reflect light away from the cone 18 of light and darken theassociated pixel.

As a more specific example, an exemplary state of the mirror array 10 isdepicted in FIG. 2. Assuming a two tone black and white projected imagefor this example, some mirrors (such as the mirrors 12) of the array 10are associated with black pixels of the image, and other mirrors (suchas mirrors 13) of the array 10 are associated with white pixels of theimage. The mirrors that are associated with the black pixels are tiltedat angles to reflect incident light away from the cone 18 (FIG. 1) oflight; and the mirrors that are associated with white pixels are tiltedat angles to reflect the incident light into the cone 18 of light. Thereflection of light into or away from the cone 18 of light is depictedin FIG. 1 for an exemplary mirror 14 of the array 10. The mirror 14controls the intensity of an associated pixel 11 of an image that isformed on the projection screen 19. To produce a white pixel, theprojection system 20 tilts the mirror 14 at an angle to reflect lightalong a path 17 that intersects the pixel 11 and is within the cone 18.To produce a black pixel, the projection system 20 tilts the mirror 14at an angle to reflect light along a path 15 that falls outside of thecone 18.

To create intermediate pixel intensities (called gray scale intensities)other than the two tone intensities described above, the projectionsystem may use pulse width modulation (PWM). With PWM, the projectionsystem controls the tilt angle of each mirror pursuant to a PWM cycle toestablish a particular intensity value for a given pixel. Morespecifically, pursuant to a PWM cycle, a gray scale intensity for aparticular pixel is created by moving the associated mirror rapidlybetween a position in which the mirror reflects light into the cone 18(during an “on time” of the PWM cycle) and a position in which themirror directs the incident light along a path outside of the cone 18(during an “off time” of the PWM cycle). The fraction of time in whichlight is directed toward the pixel as compared to the duration of thePWM cycle determines the average brightness, or gray scale intensity, ofthe pixel. The viewer's eyes integrate these rapid flashes into aperception of a gray scale intensity for the pixel. The gray scale inthis sense also applies to color images that result from a projectionsystem that combines red, green and blue images (created by directingred, green and blue light beams toward the mirror array 10) to form acolor image.

The conventional projection system updates the projected image pursuantto a frame rate (a 60 Hz rate, for example). This frame rate places alimit on the duration of the PWM cycle, as the PWM period (the inverseof the frame rate) cannot extend beyond the frame period. Other factorsmay compress the time that is allocated for each PWM cycle. For example,less time is allocated to each PWM cycle if the number of rows in theprojected image exceeds the number of rows of mirrors in the mirrorarray. For this arrangement, the projection system may generate aperceived projected image by scanning the perceived image (once everyframe period) with the images that are created by the mirror array. Thismeans multiple updates must be made to the mirror array during eachframe period, thereby decreasing the time allocated for each PWM cycleby the corresponding multiple. Furthermore, the mirror array may be usedto sequentially form three primary color (red, green and blue, forexample) images to produce a perceived color composite image, therebyfurther compressing the time allocated to each PWM cycle. Additionally,the time allocated to each PWM cycle may be further reduced by multiplerefresh operations that redraw the image that the user sees on theprojection screen 19 several times during each frame period. Thus, asignificantly small time may be allocated for the PWM cycle so that apotential challenge associated with the above-described approach is thatthe mirror array may not be capable of moving its mirrors rapidly enoughto accommodate the allocated PWM cycle time.

Thus, there is a continuing need for an arrangement and/or techniquethat addresses one or more of the problems stated above as well as anarrangement and/or technique that addresses one or more problems thatmay not be set forth above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a projection system of the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a mirror array of the prior art.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a mirror array according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an image line formed from the mirror arrayof FIG. 3 according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a projection system according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the mirror array of FIG. 5 according toan embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of mirror array control circuitryaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a condensing lens and scanning lens ofthe projection system of FIG. 5 according to an embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 3, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention,a mirror array 50 may be used to form projected images in a projectionsystem. This projection system may be used for purposes of displayingelectronically generated or transmitted data on a reflective screen. Asexamples, the projection system may be used in forming images oncomputer screens and television screens in response to signals receivedfrom a television tuner, DVD player, etc.

The mirror array 50 may be used to form gray scale intensities in aprojected image without modulating (using pulse width modulation (PWM),for example) the tilt angles of the mirrors of the array 50. To create aparticular projected image having gray scale intensities, each mirror ofthe array 50 either reflects light toward the image or away from theimage without being modulated between two different tilt angles. Thus,the light is modulated by controlling the tilt angles of mirrors of thearray 50 to digitally steer light either into the cone of light to beprojected or elsewhere (to a non-reflective light “dump,” for example).Conventional PWM projection systems achieve gray scale intensityvariations by varying the percentage of time that the mirrors reflectlight towards the screen. In contrast, in accordance with embodiments ofthe invention, the percentage of mirrors that point toward theprojection screen are varied for a given column in the array 50.

More specifically, in some embodiments of the invention, the mirrors ofthe array 50 are organized into groups of multiple mirrors. Each groupof mirrors is associated with and controls the intensity of a differentpixel of the projected image. More particularly, to form a particulargray scale intensity for a particular pixel, each mirror of theassociated group either reflects light in a path that is directed towardthe pixel or in a path that is directed away from the pixel. The lightreflections toward the pixel are combined (as described below) to formthe gray scale intensity for the pixel.

The mirror array 50 is therefore used in a manner different from aconventional mirror array, an array in which each mirror is associatedwith a different pixel of the projected image so that each mirror, andonly that mirror, establishes the intensity of the associated pixel.Thus, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the mirrorarray 50 includes a gray scale extension, in that multiple mirrors areused to form the gray scale intensity for each pixel, as describedbelow.

In the context of this application, the phrase “projected image” meansthe multiple pixel image that is produced by a particular state of themirror array when used in a projection system (described below). Duringa particular frame period, the mirror array 50 may have severaldifferent states and thus, may produce several different projectedimages. For example, to produce what appears to be a color image (to aviewer), the mirror array 50 may assume a first state to reflect redlight to produce a red projected image, another state to reflect greenlight to subsequently produce a green projected image and a third stateto reflect blue light subsequently produce a blue projected image. Thesuccessive appearance of the red, green and blue projected images areperceived by a viewer of the projection system to form a multi-colorcomposite image. Furthermore, the mirror array 50 may produce additionalprojected images during a particular frame period for purposes ofrefreshing the images seen by the viewer.

Thus, the mirror array 50 reflects light to produce projected imagesthat are perceived by the human eye to form other composite images. Asnoted above, the color composite image is a perceived image, as thecolor composite image may be formed from red, green and blue images.Furthermore, each red, green or blue image may also not be formed at onetime on the projection screen. Rather, in some embodiments of theinvention, the mirror array 50 forms a single row of pixels. Thus, tocreate each red, green or blue image, in accordance with someembodiments of the invention, the mirror array 50 is used to formsuccessive single row projected images so that the red, green or blueimage is effectively scanned onto the projection screen one pixel row ata time.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary projected pixel row 52 for the exemplarystate of the mirror array 50 that is depicted in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, thewhite boxes depict mirrors (called “on mirrors” herein) that reflectlight toward a projection cone of light (and thus, toward the projectedimage) of the projection system, and the black boxes depict mirrors(called “off mirrors herein) that reflect light away from the projectioncone of light (and thus, away from the projected image).

The horizontal dimension of the mirror array 50, in some embodiments ofthe invention, is associated with the pixel positions of the pixel row,and the vertical dimension of the mirror array 50 is associated with theintensity values for each of the pixels of the projected pixel row.Thus, each column of mirrors in the array 50 is associated with one ofthe pixels of the projected pixel row image so that the gray scaleintensity of the associated pixel is formed from the total light that isreflected by the on mirrors of the associated column. In general, agreater number of on mirrors for a particular column means a lightergray scale intensity, and a lower number of off mirrors for the columnmeans a darker gray scale intensity.

In some embodiments of the invention, the mirror array 50 may be used ina projection system 100 that is depicted in FIG. 5. In addition to themirror array 50, the projection system 100 includes a light source 102that produces a generally white light beam (i.e., a beam that containsall primary color components) that generally follows an optical path 104to a color filter 110 (a color filter wheel, for example). In someembodiments of the invention, at any particular time, the color filter110 filters two primary color components from the incident light beam toproduce a primary color light beam that is directed along an opticalpath 116 that is directed toward the mirror array 50. As a more specificexample, in some embodiments of the invention, the color filter 110 mayproduce three primary color beams (extending along the optical path 116)in succession.

For example, in some embodiments of the invention, the color filter 110may produce a red color beam, then a green beam that is followed by ablue color beam. Continuing this example, these beams are incident uponthe mirror array 50 for purposes of forming red, green and blue imageson a projection screen 150 of the system 100. These red, green and blueimages appear to a viewer of the projection screen 150 to form acomposite color image on the screen 150.

The projection system 100 may include additional optics that are notdepicted in FIG. 5. For example, in some embodiments of the invention,the light beam that is produced by the color filter 110 may pass throughoptics that are not depicted in FIG. 5 before the beam reaches themirror array 50. However, regardless of the specific optics, the beamthat leaves the color filter 110 is eventually incident upon the mirrorsof the array 50. As another example, in some embodiments of theinvention, the projection system 100 may include optics between thelight source 102 and the color filter 110. The optics before the mirrorarray 50 direct the light from the light source 102 to efficiently andevenly illuminate the mirror array 50. The angle of incidence upon themirror array 50 is selected so that the mirrors of the array 50 switchthe light completely to provide high contrast in the projected image.

The mirrors of the array 50 reflect the beam from the color filter 110to form the projected image. More specifically, for a particular image,some of the mirrors are “on mirrors,” and thus, these mirrors are tiltedto direct light into the projection cone of light (i.e., these mirrorsreflect light into optical paths that eventually intersect the projectedimage.) Other mirrors for this image are off mirrors, and thus, thesemirrors are tilted to direct light away from the projection cone oflight (i.e., these mirrors reflect light away from the optical path thatintersects the projected image).

The projection system 100, in some embodiments of the invention,includes a condensing lens 130. A perspective view of the condensinglens 130 and a scanning lens 140 (described below) is depicted in FIG.8. As can been seen from this figure, in some embodiments of theinvention, the condensing lens 130 may be generally cylindrical.Referring both to FIGS. 5 and 8, the condensing lens 130 receives light(as indicated by the light rays 120 and 122) that is directed toward thelens 130 by the on mirrors of the array 50. Thus, each on mirrorproduces an associated beam of light that is directed toward thecondensing lens 130. In some embodiments of the invention, thecondensing lens 130 vertically compresses these light beams together toform a beam (directed along a path 132) that indicates a particularpixel row of the projected image. Stated differently, for each column ofmirrors in the array 50, the condensing lens 130 directs the reflectedlight from the on mirrors of that column into a single optical path thatintersects a particular pixel of the projected image. Thus, in someembodiments of the invention, the condensing lens 130 maps each columnof mirrors of the array 50 to a unique pixel of the projected singlepixel row image. As a more specific example, the condensing lens 130maps the mirrors of column 9 of the array 50 (see FIG. 3) into a pixel70 (see FIG. 4) of the projected pixel row, maps the mirrors of column 2of the mirror array 50 into a pixel 72 of the projected pixel row, etc.

For purposes of scanning the projected image with the single projectedpixel row, the projection system 100 may include a scanning lens 140that directs the beam from the condensing lens 130 along an optical path144 to a particular vertical position on the projection screen 150.Thus, the scanning lens 140 varies the vertical position of the opticalpath 144 to establish each row of the projected image. Therefore, duringeach frame period, the scanning lens 140, in accordance with someembodiments of the invention, draws a particular image one pixel rowimage in a top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top fashion.

In other embodiments of the invention, the scanning lens 140 may bereplaced by a mirror or another optical device. Regardless of the formof this optical device, the optical device sweeps a concentratedextended vertical array into a line at the screen. The optical devicemay be a mechanically moved element that may be driven, for example,from the same motor as a color wheel.

In some embodiments of the invention, for purposes of reducing artifactsand flickering in the projected image, the projection system 100 mayperform several refresh operations during each frame period. Forexample, in some embodiments of the invention, the projection system 100may refresh the image that is seen by the viewer four times (as anexample) during each frame period. In some embodiments of the invention,the projected image is a color composite image formed from a red image,a green image and a blue image that are formed in succession. For fourrefreshes of the color composite image during each frame period, theprojection system 100 generally forms twelve images of the projectionscreen during each frame period: four red images, four green images andfour blue images. The human eye perceives a composite color image fromthe successively displayed and overlayed images. For embodiments of theinvention in which mirror array 50 forms the lines of the projectedimage one row at a time, the projection system 100 actually forms 12*V(where “V” represents the number of rows of the perceived image)projected single row images on the projection screen 150. Thus, theprojection system 100 updates the mirror array 50 12*V times during eachframe.

In some embodiments of the invention, the mirror array 50 may be part ofa projection assembly 300 (an assembly mounted on a printed circuitboard (PCB), for example) that also includes a controller 51. As anexample, the controller 51 may receive video data via one or more inputlines 320 and controls the tilt angles of the mirrors of the array 50accordingly, consistent with the operation of the mirror array 50described herein.

Other variations are possible. For example, in other embodiments of theinvention, for a given state, the mirror array 50 may project a multiplerow pixel image. As an example, in these embodiments of the invention, afirst contiguous group of mirror rows may form the gray scaleintensities for a particular projected pixel row, a second contiguousgroup of mirrors adjacent to the first group of mirrors may form thegray scale intensities for the adjacent projected pixel row, etc.Continuing the example, the projection system may include a condensinglens for each group. Many other variations are possible and are withinthe scope of the appended claims.

In some embodiments of the invention, the mirror array 50 has as manymirrors in the horizontal direction as there are pixels of horizontalresolution; and the mirror array 50 has as many mirrors in the verticaldirection as there are shades of gray to display. The number of shades(i.e., the number of gray scale intensity values) may be expressed asbits of gray resolution, as described by the following equation:Shades=2^(G),  Eq. 1

where “G” represents the number of bits used to indicate the gray value.For example, for eight bits of resolution, the number of shades is2⁸=256. Thus, in some embodiments of the invention, to create these 256shades, each column of mirrors in the array 50 includes 256-1 (i.e., nomirrors for the darkest (black) level)=255 mirrors, plus any mirrorsadded for redundancy. The number of mirrors for each shade (for theexample of 256 shades) is described in the table below: TABLE 1 MirrorsToward Gray Binary Condensing Level MSB . . . LSB Lens Black 00000000 01 00000001 1 2 00000010 2 3 00000011 3 4 00000199 4 . . . 253 11111101253 254 11111110 254 White 11111111 255

In some embodiments of the invention, each bit of the digital value (abyte, for example) that indicates the gray scale intensity value for aparticular pixel controls the number of mirrors (in the associatedcolumn) that reflect light into the condensing lens 130. For the 8 bitexample described above, if the most significant bit (MSB) is a “1,”then, in some embodiments of the invention, the projection system 100assigns 128 mirrors to reflect light into the condensing lens 130 (i.e.,128 “on mirrors”) in response to this bit. If the next most significantbit (MSB) is a “1,” then, in some embodiments of the invention, theprojection system assigns 64 bits to reflect light into the condensinglens 130 in response to this bit, etc. If the bit in a particular bitposition is a “0,” then no mirrors are assigned to reflect light intothe cone of projection due to this bit. The mirror assignments fordifferent bit positions are illustrated in the table below: TABLE 2Mirrors Bit Code Assigned 7 (MSB) 10000000 128 6 01000000 64 5 0010000032 4 00010000 16 3 00001000 8 2 00000100 4 1 00000010 2 0 (LSB) 000000011

Thus, as a more specific example, for an eight bit gray scale value of“10010111b” (wherein the “b” suffix denotes a binary representation) fora particular pixel, 151 mirrors of the associated column are assigned toreflect light into the cone of projection: 128 (bit position 7)+0 (bitposition 6)+0 (bit position 5)+16 (bit position 4)+0 (bit position 3)+4(bit position 2)+2 (bit position 1)+1 (bit position 0).

In some embodiments of the invention, the mirrors that are associatedwith a particular bit position of the gray scale intensity value areevenly spatially distributed along the column. For example, the 128mirrors that are associated with the most significant bit may occupyabout every second vertical position (i.e., about every second row ofthe column), the 64 mirrors that are associated with the next mostsignificant bit may occupy every second vertical position, etc.

FIG. 6 depicts a more detailed diagram of the mirror array 50 inaccordance with some embodiments of the invention. The mirror array 50may be part of a semiconductor package 199 that includes N buffers 200(buffers 200 ₁, 200 ₂, 200 _(N-2), 200 _(N-1) and 200_(N), depicted asexamples), each of which is associated with a particular column ofmirrors of the array 50 and furnishes data to control the mirrors of thecolumn. More specifically, in some embodiments of the invention, eachbuffer 200 may be synchronized to a clock signal (called COL_CLK) forpurposes of updating the mirrors of the associated column. In thisregard, the buffer 200, when triggered by the COL_CLK signal, furnishesa new set of data to drivers 216 that, in turn, produce correspondingsignals on control lines 218 of the mirror array 50. Each control line218 is associated with one of the mirrors of the array 50 andcommunicates a signal that is indicative of a particular bit of data. Ifthe bit is a logic one, then, in some embodiments of the invention, thecorresponding control line 218 communicates a signal to cause theassociated mirrors to tilt at the appropriate angle to reflect lightinto the condensing lens 130. If the bit is a logic zero, then, in someembodiments of the invention, the corresponding control line 218communicates a signal to cause the associated mirrors to tilt at theappropriate angle to reflect light away from the condensing lens 130.The data is stored in the buffers 200 in a manner to form theappropriate images on the projection screen. As a more specific example,the data that the buffers 200 provide to the drivers 216 may be orderedto implement the appropriate color sequence and refresh sequencesdescribed above.

In some embodiments of the invention, each buffer 200 furnishes a newset of data to the drivers 216 in response to each positive going edgeof the COL_CLK signal. Thus, the frequency of the COL_CLK signaldetermines the rate at which the mirror array 50 is updated. Othervariations are possible. For example, in some embodiments of theinvention, the buffers 200 may respond to both positive and negativegoing edges of the COL_CLK signal to furnish data to the mirror array50. For these embodiments of the invention, the update frequency istwice that of the frequency of the COL_CLK signal.

As a more specific example, an exemplary column 240 of the mirror array50 is depicted in FIG. 6, in accordance with some embodiments of theinvention. The column 240 includes eight control lines 218 (controllines 218 ₇, 218 ₆, 218 ₅, . . . 218 ₀) that control the tilt angles oftwo hundred fifty-six mirrors (mirrors 220 ₂₅₅, 220 ₂₅₄, 220 ₂₅₃, . . .220 ₀) of the column 240. These eight control lines 218 receive signalsthat are furnished at the output terminals of eight of the drivers 216.These eight drivers 216 furnish these signals in response to eight bitsignals that are furnished by the buffer 200 _(N). Each control line 218is associated with a different bit position of the digital value thatindicates the gray level. For the exemplary column 240, the controllines 218 ₇, 218 ₆, 218 ₅, . . . 218 ₀ are associated with the bitpositions 7-0, respectively. Thus, the control line 218 ₇ communicates asignal indicative of the most significant bit (i.e., bit 7) of thedigital gray scale intensity value, the control line 218 ₆ communicatesa signal indicative of bit 6 of the digital gray scale intensity value,the control line 218 ₅ communicates a signal indicative of bit 5 of thedigital gray scale intensity value, etc.

More mirrors are connected to a control line 218 that is associated witha higher bit order than a control that is associated with a lower bitorder. Thus, continuing the discussion of the exemplary column 240, onehundred twenty-eight mirrors 220 (such as the mirrors 220 ₀ and 220₂,for example) are connected to the control line 218 ₇, sixty-four mirrors220 (such as the mirror 220 ₁, for example) are connected to the controlline 218 ₆, thirty-two mirrors 220 are connected to the control line 218₅ (such as the mirror 220 ₃), etc. The mirrors 220 are generally evenly,spatially distributed along the column 240. For example, the one hundredtwenty-eight mirrors (such as mirrors 220 ₀ and 220₂, for example) thatare associated with the most significant bit occupy about every othermirror position. As another example, the two mirrors (such as the mirror220 ₂₅₅, for example) that are associated with the second leastsignificant bit (i.e., bit position number 1) occupy about every onehundred twenty-eighth mirror position.

The aspect ratio of each mirror is not critical, in some embodiments ofthe invention. In this manner, the mirrors of the array 50 may be longerin the vertical direction, in some embodiments of the invention, forpurposes of providing more even illumination. The drivers for themirrors may or may not be fabricated on the same substrate as themirrors, depending on the particular embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, in some embodiments of the invention, thecontroller 51 of the projection assembly 300 (see also FIG. 1) mayinclude a processor 302 (a microprocessor, for example) that is coupledto a system bus 304. A memory controller 310 may also be coupled to thesystem bus 304 and control the storage and retrieval of data with asystem memory 308. The controller 51 may include a video interface 312that includes one or more input lines 320 for receiving a video signal.The video signal indicates a video to be displayed on the projectionscreen 150. The processor 302 may store data indicative of this videosignal in the system memory 308 and perform video processing techniqueson the data. The processor 302 may also retrieve data from the systemmemory 308 and store the data in the memory buffers 200 (FIG. 6) of themirror array 50 for purposes of controlling the images that are formedby the mirror array 50. In some embodiments of the invention, thecontroller 51 includes a flash memory 325 (coupled to the system bus 304via an interface 326) for purposes of storing program instructions tocause the processor 302 to control the mirror array 50 as describedherein. Thus, in some embodiments of the invention, the instructionsthat are stored in the memory 325 cause the processor 302 to, for eachpixel, control the mirror array to selectively direct reflected lightfrom the mirror array into condensing optics from at least two mirrorsof the array to regulate an intensity of the pixel. Furthermore, inaccordance with some embodiments of the invention, instructions that arestored in the memory 325 cause the processor 302 to group mirrors of themirror array into groups of multiple mirrors with each group beingassociated with a different pixel of the projected image, and themirrors of each group collectively form a gray scale intensity for theassociated pixel.

FIG. 7 depicts one out of many possible embodiments of the projectionassembly. For example, in some embodiments of the invention, a framebuffer may be located between the processor 302 and the system bus 304.With this arrangement, the data from the processor need not besynchronous with the data on the system bus 304. As another example, insome embodiments of the invention, the mirror array 50 may be biased andsignals provided to the mirror array 50 may be conditioned by circuitrynot depicted in FIG. 7.

The projection system 100 may provide one or more of the followingadvantages. The light that is incident upon the mirror array is spreadacross the entire array and is not concentrated into a narrow line, asit would have to be in a conventional scanning approach. The condensinglens concentrates the vertical extent of the array into a line byoptical means so that the power density of light on the mirror array isless than if concentrated into a line on the mirror array, therebycausing less heating of the mirror array. The projection system may besignificantly less sensitive to pixel failures than a conventionalmirror array-based projection system. In this manner, in such aconventional system, a failing mirror (since it maps to a single pixel)appears in the projected image as a permanent light or dark spot, whichwill be quite noticeable to a viewer. In contrast, in the projectionsystems described herein, a failing mirror affects a small portion ofthe total pixel light and will be much less noticeable. For example, fora mirror array in accordance with some embodiments, each pixel of theprojected image is formed using up to fifteen mirrors (depending on theintensity of the pixel). Therefore, a failing mirror may affect only{fraction (1/15)}th (as an example) of the total brightness of the pixelin the column where the failure occurs.

Continuing with the possible advantages of the projection system 100that is described herein, unlike conventional mirror-based projectionsystems, the projection system easily permits the incorporation ofredundant mirrors. For example, in some embodiments of the invention,the mirror array may include an additional row of mirrors forredundancy. Each mirror in this row may be connected via a silicon fuseto the control line of the failing mirror. If the bad mirror is detectedin testing to be permanently dark, the redundant mirror may be connectedvia the fuse to the appropriate control line to replace the bad mirror.The result of this technique is a higher yield for the array, since asmall defect may be repaired.

Another potential advantage of the projection system 100 describedherein is that pulse width modulation (PWM) is not used for gray scaleintensity control. This reduces the required response time of themirrors by the factor of the number of possible values of gray in thescale, relative to a single line scanning approach. Yet anotheradvantage of the projection system described herein is that the mirrorsof the mirror array do not need to be square. In this manner, theoptical scanning and condensing system may adjust for any non-squaremirror aspect ratio. Conversely, in some embodiments of the invention,the mirror aspect ratio may be designed for the optical properties ofthe system.

The following table depicts different performance parameters (set forthin column 2) that characterize 1. a “Conventional Linear Scan System”that uses PWM and scans a projected image one row at time (see columns 3and 4); 2. the Projection System 100 (see columns 5 and 6); and 3. a“Conventional Non-scan System that does not perform a scan but rather,includes one mirror per pixel of the projected image (see columns 7 and8): TABLE 3 Conventional Linear Projection Conventional Scan SystemSystem 100 Non-scan System Symbol Parameter Eqn Qty Eqn Qty Eqn Qty FTFrame Time 1/60 16.7 msec 1/60 16.7 msec 1/60 16.7 msec CF Color Fields3 3 3 R Refreshes per 4 4 1 Field V Vertical Lines 768 768 768 HHorizontal 1280 1280 1280 Resolution G Gray Scale Bits 8 8 8 P PWM timeslots 2^(G) 256 — 1 2^(G) 256 RT Refresh Time FT/ 5.43 usec FT/ 1.39msec FT/ 21.7 usec (CF*R*P) (CF*R) (CF*R*P) LT Line Update Time RT/V7.06 nsec RT/V 1.81 usec RT/V 28.3 nsec MT Mirror Setting LT 7.06 nsecLT 1.81 usec LT*V 21.7 usec Time Redundancy NO YES (fuse) NO FailureSensitivity Very High Column Very Low 0.4%/ High Visible Bad Fail mirrorPixel Number of H 1280 H*2^(G) 327,700 H*V 983,000 Mirrors Storage Bitsof H 1280 H 1280 V*H 983,000 ArrayFor this example, a 1280 by 768 pixel image is assumed. Thus, theprojected image includes 1280 horizontal pixels and 768 vertical pixels.This projected image size means that the mirror array of theConventional Linear Scan System has one row of 1280 mirrors; the mirrorarray of the Projection system 100 has 1280 columns by 256 rows ofmirrors; and the mirror array of the Conventional Non-Scan System has1280 columns by 768 rows of mirrors. In the table above, a time (called“MT”) allocated for each mirror to settle before the mirror receivesanother update is 7.06 nanoseconds (nsec) for the Conventional LinearScan System, 1.81 microseconds (μs) for the Projection System 100 and21.7 μs for the Conventional Non-Scan system.

The mirror settling time of the Conventional Linear Scan System may betoo small for use with conventional mirror arrays that may have settlingtimes around 1 μs. Although the Conventional Non-Scan System has alarger settling time than the projection system 100, the ConventionalNon-Scan System may have a relatively high failure sensitivity (ascompared to the projection system 100) and may, unlike the projectionsystem 100, need a storage element under each mirror, thereby placing alower boundary on the pixel size.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a limitednumber of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having the benefit ofthis disclosure, will appreciate numerous modifications and variationstherefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all suchmodifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope ofthis present invention.

1. An apparatus comprising: a mirror array to form a projected imagecomprising pixels, a first dimension of the array being associated withintensity values for the pixels; and a circuit to, for each pixel,control the mirror array to selectively combine reflected light from atleast two mirrors of the array to regulate an intensity of the pixel. 2.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, for each pixel, the circuit controlsthe mirror array to selectively tilt said at least two mirrors toreflect light into an optical path that intersects a location of thepixel to regulate the intensity of the pixel.
 3. The apparatus of claim2, wherein, for each pixel, the circuit controls the mirror array tocause a greater number of said of at least two mirrors to reflect lightinto the optical path for a higher intensity level than a number of saidof at least two mirrors that reflect light into the optical path for alower intensity level.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each pixelof the projected image is uniquely associated with at least two mirrorsof the array.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each pixel of theprojected image is associated with a number of mirrors of the arraysubstantially equal to the number of potential gray levels of the pixel.6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuit does not use pulsewidth modulation to regulate the intensity of each pixel.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein a different second dimension of the arrayis associated with pixel positions of the projected.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising: optics to, for each pixel, merge opticalpaths extending from said at least two mirrors into a single opticalpath that intersects a location of the pixel.
 9. The apparatus of claim8, wherein the optics compresses a two-dimensional image formed fromlight reflected from the mirror array into a one-dimensional sub-imageof the projected image.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, for eachpixel, the intensity of the pixel is indicated by a multiple bit digitalvalue and mirrors of the array are organized into different groups, eachgroup of mirrors being associated with a different bit of the digitalvalue.
 11. A method comprising: using a mirror array to form a projectedimage, the projected image comprising pixels; associating a firstdimension of the array with intensity values of for the pixels; andcontrolling the mirror array to selectively combine reflected light fromat least two mirrors of the array to regulate an intensity of eachpixel.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: for each pixel,controlling the mirror away to selectively tilt said at least twomirrors to reflect light into an optical path that intersects a locationof the pixel to regulate the intensity of the pixel.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the controlling the mirror array to selectively tiltcomprises; for each pixel, controlling the mirror array to cause agreater number of said of at least two mirrors to reflect light into theoptical path for a higher intensity level than a number of said of atleast two mirrors that reflect light into the optical path for a lowerintensity level.
 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:uniquely associating each pixel of the projected image with at least twomirrors of the array.
 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:associating each pixel of the projected image with a number of mirrorsof the array substantially equal to the number of potential gray levelsof the pixel.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the controlling doesnot include using pulse width modulation to regulate the intensity ofeach pixel.
 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising: using adifferent second dimension of the array to identify pixel positions ofthe projected image.
 18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:merging optical paths extending from said at least two mirrors into asingle optical path that intersects a location of the pixel.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, further comprising: compressing a two-dimensionalimage formed from light reflected from the mirror array into aone-dimensional sub-image of the projected image.
 20. The method ofclaim 11, wherein, for each pixel, the intensity of the pixel isindicated by a multiple bit digital value, the method furthercomprising: organizing mirrors of the array into different groups, eachgroup of mirrors being associated with a different bit of the digitalvalue.
 21. A projection sys comprising: condensing optics; a mirrorarray comprising pixels, a first dimension of the array being associatedwith intensity values for the pixels; and a circuit to, for each pixel,control the mirror array to selectively direct reflected light from themirror array into the condensing optics from at least two mirrors of thearray to regulate an intensity of the pixel.
 22. The projection systemof claim 21, wherein for each pixel, the circuit controls the mirrorarray to selectively tilt said at least two mirrors to reflect lightinto an optical path that intersects a location of the pixel to regulatethe intensity of the pixel.
 23. The projection system of claim 22,wherein, for each pixel, the circuit controls the mirror array to causea greater number of said of at least two mirrors to reflect light intothe optical path for a higher intensity level than a number of said ofat least two mirrors that reflect light into the optical path for alower intensity level.
 24. The projection system of claim 21, whereineach pixel of the projected image is uniquely associated with at leasttwo mirrors of the array.
 25. The projection system of claim 21, whereineach pixel of the projected image is associated with a number of mirrorsof the array substantially equal to the number of potential gray levelsof the pixel.
 26. The projection system of claim 21, wherein the circuitdoes not use pulse width modulation to regulate the intensity of eachpixel.
 27. The projection system of claim 21, wherein a different seconddimension of the array is associated with pixel positions of a projectedimage.
 28. The projection system of claim 21, wherein, for each pixel,the intensity of the pixel is indicated by a multiple bit digit valueand mirrors of the array are organized into different groups, each groupof mirrors being associated with a different bit of the digital value.29. A projection system comprising: condensing optics; a mirror arraycomprising pixels, a first dimension of the array being associated withintensity values for the pixels; a processor coupled to the mirrorarray; and a flash memory storing instructions to cause the processorto, for each pixel, control the mirror array to selectively directreflected light from the mirror array into the condensing optics from atleast two mirrors of the array to regulate an intensity of the pixel.30. An article comprising a computer-readable storage medium storinginstructions to when executed cause a computer to: control a mirrorarray to produce a projected image, the array comprising pixels and afirst dimension of the array being associated with intensity values ofthe pixels; and for each pixel of the image control the mirror array toselectively direct reflected light from the mirror array in an opticalpath toward the projected image from at least two mirrors of the arrayto regulate an intensity of the pixel.
 31. The article of claim 30,further comprising instructions to cause the computer to control themirror array to direct t e reflected light toward condensing optics. 32.The article of claim 30, farther comprising instructions to cause thecomputer to group mirrors of the array into groups of multiple mirrors,each group being associated with a different pixel of the projectedimage and the mirrors of each group collectively forming a gray scaleintensity for the associated pixel.
 33. The projection system of claim29, wherein a different second dimension of the array is associated withpixel positions of a projected image.